EU slaps more sanctions on Belarus

The European Union’s foreign ministers tightened sanctions on the Belarusian regime today in a response to increased repression in the country.

Ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels to add 12 people to the list of individuals covered by a ban on travelling to the EU and by an asset freeze. They also froze the assets of 29 entities controlled by people on the blacklist.

The sanctions now include several businessmen with close links to the regime, after Slovenia dropped its objections to the inclusion of one of them.

Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said: “Our decision today comes in response to the negative developments we have seen in Belarus. The situation is getting worse and the authorities are tightening the grip on civil society.”

She called on the regime to “release and rehabilitate all political prisoners and roll back its repressive policies”.

Before today’s decision 200 people were covered by the travel ban and the assets freeze. The assets of three entities linked to the regime has already been frozen.